Dear Bro. Eli,

Isn’t the concept of sin a misnomer perception in realistic management of social, political administration of the society? Even a critical analysis of church practices reflects that from time to time. Is not the concept of sin a man-made illusion?

Wish you opulent joy & prosperity

Point to Ponder:

“There is no such thing as a self-made man. We are made up of thousands of others.”

— George Adams

"In the family, may discipline overcome indiscipline, peace discord, charity miserliness, devotion arrogance, and the truth-spoken word the false -spoken word." Avesta Yasna 60.5

Partha Roy

Dear Partha Roy,

Illusion is defined in the Encarta dictionary as:

1. something with deceptive appearance: something that deceives the senses or mind, e.g. by appearing to exist when it does not or appearing to be one thing when it is in fact another

2. false idea: a false idea, conception, or belief about somebody or something

3. deceptive power of appearances: the ability of appearances to deceive the mind and senses, or the capacity of the mind and senses to be deceived by appearances

In the Bible, illusions are called ‘lying vanities’.

(Psalms 31:6) “I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.”

The Hebrew word used is ‘shav,’ meaning:

sha?v’ shav

shawv, shav

From the same as H7722 in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjectively), uselessness (as deceptive, objectively; also adverbially in vain): – false (-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries

Dictionaries of Hebrew and Greek Words taken from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., 1890.

The word ‘apate’ was used in the Greek New Testament to denote the same thought.

apate?

ap-at’-ay

From G538; delusion: – deceit (-ful, -fulness), deceivableness (-ving).

The holiness of other people can be called an illusion, but definitely not their sins.

(II Timothy 3:5) “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

These are aptly called by Christ the Lord as hypocrites.

(Matthew 23:27) “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

Hypocrisy is applying holiness in form, but denying it in heart. This is holiness in illusion; and definitely it is a sin.

Can someone who kills or murders a parent, a wife, or a child that came from his or her own body, say that what he did is an illusion? Is it proper to say that he committed an illusion? Do you think that it is okay to murder a wife, a child, or a parent? Are these crimes a reality in society or is it as they call it — an illusion?

Anybody who thinks it is okay to murder a loving wife is a fool.

(Ephesians 5:25) “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it…”

The belief of the self-proclaimed Christ, Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, leader of the cult, “Growing in Grace,” that sin no longer exists is an illusion. Thousands are being deceived by his inappropriately citing a verse he does not understand.

(Hebrews 9:28) “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

This verse was erroneously interpreted. Miranda made it appear that he is Jesus Christ; and because he has come, there is sin no more. But if you look closely at the verse, and carefully consider the context, the “appearing” mentioned will be on Judgment Day.

(Hebrews 9:27-28) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

When Christ was seen on earth during His earthly ministry, He bore the sins of those who believed in Him.

(II Corinthians 5:21) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The sins of the believers are the cause of the sufferings of Christ. His death, which is due to sinners, has enabled their redemption.

(Isaiah 53:4-5) “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

So, He was seen on the cross, bruised and dead because of sins. When he appears on Judgment Day, sin will not be with Him anymore, but definitely, the sins of the unbelieving will be with them.

(Mark 3:29) “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin…” RSV

(Matthew 12:32) “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

The sins of the unbeliever will not be redeemed and will be with them even in the world to come!

Miranda claims that he is Christ and is come; allegedly, the second coming. But if his people had healthier memories, they should have remembered that once, Miranda claimed that he is a reincarnation of the Apostle Paul. Now that he claims to be Christ, is it not a sin to fool the very people from whom he extracted money to fill his? It certainly will be unfair for them; and it is a sin that now exists in the group of Miranda.

Miranda claims that all religious leaders, except him, are liars; but he is the one lying (of course, sinning) to the very people who enriches him. Here is a publication of the Miami Herald, which Miranda can not deny and was broadcast over NBC.

The Miami Herald/July 22, 2006

By Alexandra Alter

…. In 1988, he announced he was the reincarnation of the Apostle Paul. In 1999, he dubbed himself “the Other,” a spiritual super-being who would pave the way for Christ’s second coming. In 2004, he proclaimed himself to be Jesus Christ and the sole interpreter of the gospel. http://www.rickross.com/reference/creciendo/creciendo3.html

Sin is very much a reality in Miranda and his group.

Who says that sin is an illusion? The Bible says otherwise.

The quotation of George Matthew Adams that was cited in your question is socially sound, but is not biblically true. Man is not made by thousand others, or himself. Man is made (and made whole), and being directed into righteousness only by God.

(Isaiah 41:4) “Who has done such mighty deeds, directing the affairs of the human race as each new generation marches by? It is I, the LORD, the First and the Last. I alone am he.”

There was not an upright and righteous man who lived on earth (and even in the present) who did not rely on the directive power of the Almighty Creator.

(Jeremiah 10:23) “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”

Every man, to be righteous, needs God’s direction.

(Proverbs 16:9) “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”

The quotation from the Zoroastrian scriptures that you cited, which I quote hereunder, can not be considered a general truth that can be accepted by anyone who has learned the fullness of truth in the Divine Scripture: The Bible.

“May Sraosha (Obedience) conquer disobedience within this house, and may peace triumph over discord here, and generous giving over avarice, reverence over contempt, speech with truthful words over lying utterance. May the Righteous Order gain the victory over the Demon of the Lie. As in this (house) the Bountiful Immortals seek for good Yasnas and good praises from the blessed Sraosha (who governs here), and as they seek for (one) good sacrifice and act of homage (more especially their own) which is a good offering (to them) for (our) salvation, and a good offering in praise, together with a long continued offering of the entire self, (7) let not then (their) brilliant glory ever desert this house, nor the bright abundance, nor an illustrious offspring legitimately born, nor that long continued companionship which is the furtherance of that good blessedness which teaches concerning glory.”

While obedience may conquer disobedience and peace triumph over discord, etc., in a particular situation concerning a particular house or person, it does not apply to humanity in every given instance at all times. In fact, the Bible tells us that evil co-exists with good.

(Ecclesiastes 3:16-17) “And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

This is the reality that we can see, feel, and observe. This is not illusion. Where there is goodness, there is evil; and the existence of both will be the basis for God’s judgment. The evil of the evildoers will satisfy God’s justice unto those who have done good.

(Romans 2:7-11) “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Justice is equity, and everyone must be paid according to what he has done.

(Psalms 62:12) “Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.”

(John 5:28-29) “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

May my God enlighten you in discerning what illusion is and what is not.

May God bless you,

EFS